A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

Directed by James Mangold

Hot off the heels of playing Wonka in the delightful musical comedy of the same name, as well as the epic Paul Atreides in Dune 1 & 2, we got my boy Timothée Chalamet playing a young Bob Dylan as he enters the New York art scene in the early 60s. 

Co-written and directed by James Mangold, whose Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line"  earned much acclaim as well as jeers. It's widely considered that movie is the epitome of biopic cheese, even getting skewered by the satire "Walk Hard".... So! Bob Dylan. How does one even begin to condense the life story of a man whose career has spanned over 60 years? By focusing on just a few pivotal years of Dylan's early career. His meeting and partnership with Pete Seeger (an incredibly warm endearing performance from Edward Norton, welcome back!). His f**k boy shenanigans with Joan Baez and Suze Rotolo (Monica Barbaro and Elle Fanning). And most importantly, his transition from traditional folk songs and covers to an electric rock band. 

By focusing on just a few characters and one main setting, the whole picture has a comforting super low stakes comfort to it. And the music! Oh my goodness the music! Sneaking in as a sort of low-key musical, every time the film stops for a song (which is numerous) it is completely enrapturing. Barbaro as Joan Baez really shines and her musical sequences are exquisite, Fanning doesn't sing but I was head over heels for her portrayal as a woman smitten with a kind of asshole artist (aren't we all!)

What about Timmy? He's fantastic in the musical numbers and has lots of scenes where he really shines although overall you can definitely feel him straining at times, capital A Acting. Decked out in a leather jacket, cigarette dangling riding his motorcycle, he never looked cooler. Anyway, I sort of loved the whole thing even with it's occasional dose of biopic cheese, at this point I welcome it! It's a great introduction to Bob and since my screening I've gone down a sortof Dylan rabbit hole. I'm going to need Timmy C to release a blockbuster musical every holiday season from now on!

🎶How does it feel?🎶

🎸🎸🎸 and a half out of 4